Method for Targeted Application of Hair Care Products

ABSTRACT

The present invention defines a method for applying non-coloring hair care products, such as hair styling or hair conditioning products, to specific areas of scalp hair where the benefit is particularly needed. This method efficiently provides the desired hair care benefit while minimizing unwanted effects that could come from broader application of the products to the entire head of hair or scalp. In this method, one or more non-coloring hair care products are applied to the application end of a mascara wand, and that mascara wand is used to apply an effective amount of those hair care products to specific areas of the scalp hair, where needed.

The present application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/315,514, filed Mar. 19, 2010, incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to hair treatment products and, particularly, to a method for applying non-coloring hair care products to specific areas of the hair.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a method for applying non-coloring hair care products, such as hair styling, hair conditioning (including, for example, hair moisturizing, split end repair, body, volume, shine and/or strength), hair cleaning, hair straightening or hair relaxing products, to specific places on scalp hair where a particular benefit is needed, while minimizing the unwanted effects that can result from the application of some of those products to broader areas on the head or on the scalp.

As a general rule, hair styling and conditioning products are applied to the entirety of a head of hair and they are not targeted to specific areas. Sometimes, however, it would be desirable to get the desired benefit of a styling or conditioning composition in a particular place where the benefit is needed, rather than to apply it to the entire head of hair, most of which does not require the particular benefit being sought. Since some of those types of compositions can lead to issues on the hair or scalp, such as allergies or contact dermatitis on the scalp, chemical damage to the hair or scalp, or a stiff, oily or “wetted-down” look to the hair, it is sometimes desirable to provide a very targeted application of these hair styling and conditioning compositions to precisely the area where they are needed, rather than to apply them to the entire head of hair and thereby minimize the problems which can sometimes occur with such broader application. That is what the present invention provides. It allows the consumer to alter or improve the texture, hair properties or position of only the group of hairs in question, thereby providing greater control and better results, while minimizing possible side-effects that can be caused by over-application of the compositions involved. This is a need which has not heretofore been addressed in the hair care field.

Hair mascaras were a product which achieved some popularity in the late 1990's; they were used to touch-up color or provide color streaks or highlights to particular areas of the hair. The hair mascara color composition was applied with a mascara wand. Examples of such compositions and their use can be found at the following websites: hair.lovetoknow.com; beauty.about.com; and hairboutique.com.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,635, Miya, issued Jun. 8, 1976, defines an applicator used for depositing a liquid material onto hair. In this applicator, the handle includes a reservoir which holds the liquid. The reservoir is made of a pliable material which can be squeezed, causing the liquid contained in the reservoir to dispense onto a relatively large comb-like device; the liquid is applied to the hair as the comb is moved through the hair strands. It is taught that this applicator allows application of a liquid to the hair without having the liquid contact the scalp. It is taught that the applicator can be used to apply hair oil, hair washing liquid or hair dye. The purpose of the applicator is to provide a convenient method for generalized application of a liquid to hair (as opposed to the scalp), not to apply a composition to specific spots on the hair.

Mascara is a cosmetic commonly used to enhance appearance of the eyes by darkening, thickening, lengthening and/or defining the eyelashes. Mascara normally comes in one of three forms: liquid, cake or cream. Mascara products have a variety of formulations; however, they all contain the same basic components: pigments, oils, waxes and preservatives. A mascara wand is frequently used for applying mascara to the eyelashes. Mascara wands are well-known; they are widely available with commercial mascara products, and an example of one can be seen at the Wikipedia listing for “mascara”. As discussed above, mascara wands have also been used for applying hair coloring compositions, and particularly, hair mascaras.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a method for the targeted application of non-coloring hair care products to specific areas of scalp hair, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a mascara wand having a gripping end and an application end; (b) applying one or more non-coloring hair care products to the application end of the said mascara wand; and (c) using said mascara wand to apply an effective amount of the said one or more products to the specific area of scalp hair where needed.

Examples of the non-coloring hair care products that can be applied in this manner include conditioners, cleaners, styling compositions, permanent wave compositions, hair straighteners, and hair relaxers.

As used herein, all percentages and ratios stated are given “by weight”, unless otherwise specified. Further, all references cited in this patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What Product Is Applied?

The compositions which are applied using the process of the present invention include non-coloring hair care products. These products do not include dyes, bleaches, and other compositions which are intended to change or intensify the color of the hair. They do include hair conditioners (including static control products, split end repair products, hair moisturizers, hair body enhancers, hair volume enhancers, hair shine enhancers and/or hair strength enhancers), hair cleaners/shampoos, styling compositions, permanent waving compositions, hair straighteners and hair relaxers. Such compositions are very well-known in the hair care art.

Using the method of the present invention, these compositions are applied to small areas of hair where the particular benefit is required. In fact, the compositions can even be applied to a single hair strand if that is what is desired. Thus, for example, if a small area of hair needs to be held in place in order to achieve a particular hair style or if several strands of hair are sticking out (for example, in a cowlick), the present invention can be used to apply a hair styling/hold composition to those particular areas of hair to hold them in place without affecting the remaining hairs on the head.

Generally, the method of the present invention is used after the hair is already styled, in order to address finishing issues such as broken hairs, flyaway hairs, cowlicks or frizz. Application of a product with a targeted applicator allows for only the pieces of hair that need product applied to be affected. If applying the product without the use of the applicator, the surrounding hairs can also be affected, possibly resulting in loss of volume and style previously created.

The non-coloring hair care products are applied to the hair in “an effective amount”, i.e., an amount which provides the benefit desired from the particular hair care product to the area of hair where the benefit is required. “Effective amount” can easily be determined by those skilled in the art based on the nature of the hair care product, the identity of the active included in the hair care product, the degree of benefit required, the extent of any unusual atmospheric conditions involved (e.g., excessive humidity), and the hair area to be covered.

How Is The Product Applied?

The product is applied to specific areas of the hair using a “mascara wand”, a well-known term of art in the hair care industry. A “mascara wand” is a small application device, held and controlled in one hand. The device is usually between about 2.5 and about 6 inches in total length. One end of the mascara wand generally has a larger cross-sectional diameter which allows it to be held in the hand more easily (i.e., the gripping end). The other end of the mascara wand is a thin rod having fine bristles or another application device near or at its end (i.e., the application end). The bristles generally extend for no more than about 0.25-1.5 inches along the length of the wand. The application end generally can be straight or curved. The application end can also pivot to an angle with respect to the gripping end in order to provide different application characteristics. Non-limiting examples of mascara wands are disclosed in the following references, each of which is incorporated herein by reference: Wikipedia (“mascara” entry); U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,755, Cassai, issued Aug. 28, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,374, Ziegler, issued Apr. 9, 1963; U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,962, Moriber et al, issued May 23, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,928, Widegren, issued Sep. 30, 1969; U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,282, Wavering, issued Oct. 25, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,388, Cassai et al, issued Jan. 31, 1984; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,913, Wilson-Jackson, issued Jan. 29, 2002.

Mascara wands and brushes come in various types, including fiber brushes, small combs, and injection-molded brushes. They include plastic, fiber bristles or rubber bristles on their application end, and their application end can either be straight or curved depending on the manner in which the application is to be made. The precise structure of the mascara wand or mascara brush to be used in the present invention is not critical as long as the application end is small and fine and it allows application of relatively small amounts of the non-color hair care product to very specific areas of hair, even including application to single hairs.

Method Of Application

The method of the present application is accomplished by applying one or more non-color hair care products to the application end of the wand. The non-color hair care product(s) will generally be in the form of a liquid, paste, cream, gel or solid (such as a wax). The application end is typically dipped into a liquid, paste, cream or gel, or rubbed along the surface of a solid (waxy) composition in order to apply the composition to the bristles on the application end. Once that is done, the wand is used to apply an effective amount of the composition to the desired area of scalp hair. A mirror is frequently used if the composition is self-applied (i.e., if the user is applying the composition to his or her own hair). The application steps can be repeated, if necessary, to achieve the desired amount of hair care product to the specific locations desired, or to apply a second hair care product. The product applied can be washed out shortly after application, or left on the hair for one or more days until the next shampoo is carried out, depending upon the particular effect desired. The product can be applied to hair which has just been cleaned or hair that has not been recently cleaned as a “touch up”.

EXAMPLES

The following styling cream and gel compositions are prepared using conventional techniques:

Styling Cream Compositions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 A Water Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance pH Regulator (Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. Tartaric Acid, Fumaric Acid, Isononanoic Acid) Dimethicone 1.00 1.00 1.00 B Cetearyl Alcohol 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 6.00 6.00 Cetyl Esters 0.50 0.50 Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 Cetrimonium Chloride (30% Active) 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 PVP 0.75 0.15 Polyquaternium-11 0.20 0.15 0.25 Acrylates/VA Copolymer 0.20 VP/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole 2.50 0.10 VP/VA Copolymer 0.55 0.25 Polyquaternium-55 0.35 2.00 C Preservative (Choice) qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. Fragrance qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs. qs.

Gel Composition 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 A Water Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Hydroxyethylcellulose 3.00 5.00 Carbomer 2.00 5.00 4.00 4.00 10.00  Hydroxymethylcellulose 2.00 3.00 PVP 2.00 Polyquaternium-11 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 Acrylates/VA Copolymer 0.25 0.10 0.05 VP/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole 1.50 1.50 0.50 Coploymer VP/VA Copolymer 0.15 0.35 0.30 Polyquaternium-55 0.60 0.65 0.25 Fragrance qs qs qs qs qs qs qs qs qs qs qs qs

The application end of a mascara wand is dipped into any of these compositions to apply the composition to the wand. The composition is then applied, using the wand, to an area of styled hair which show flyaway hairs or frizz. This method allows for the specific area of hair to be treated and its problem controlled, without applying the styling composition to surrounding areas of the hair. 

1. A method for the targeted application of non-coloring hair care products to specific areas of scalp hair, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a mascara wand having a gripping end and an application end; (b) applying one or more non-coloring hair care products to the application end of said mascara wand; and (c) using said mascara wand to apply an effective amount of said one or more products to the specific area of scalp hair where needed.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the non-coloring hair care product is selected from the group consisting of hair conditioners, cleaners, styling compositions, permanent wave compositions, hair straighteners, and combinations thereof.
 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the non-coloring hair care product is selected from the group consisting of hair conditioners, hair styling compositions, and combinations thereof.
 4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the non-coloring hair care product is applied to a small area of hair.
 5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the non-coloring hair care product is applied to individual hairs.
 6. The method according to claim 3 wherein the non-coloring hair care product is applied to individual hairs.
 7. The method according to claim 2 wherein the non-coloring hair care product is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquids, pastes, creams, gels, and solids.
 8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the non-coloring hair care product is in a form selected from liquids, pastes, and gels.
 9. The method according to claim 3 wherein the hair conditioning product is selected from static control products, split end repair products, hair moisturizers, hair body enhancers, hair volume enhancers, hair shine enhancers, hair strength enhancers, and combinations thereof. 